Masselli Unveils Plans for New Community Health Center Building

(Architectural rendering of proposed Community Health Center headquarters.)


At the Economic Development Committee meeting Monday, Community Health Center CEO Mark Masselli unveiled plans to build a new headquarters for dental, medical and mental health services offices on what is now a parking lot on the corner of Main and Grand Streets. The parking lot is a city-owned lot adjacent to Eli Canon's.

This is the first of three meetings at which Masselli will appear this week, seeking quick approval for a plan that's been in the works for three years to take advantage of potential funding through federal stimulus dollars available in the state. CHC will also seek approval this week from the city Design and Review committee, and will appear before the Planning and Zoning Commission to schedule a public hearing.

According to Masselli, the three story LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building will be have 40,000 square feet and will include office space for staff, and treatment area for patients, consolidating offices currently spread over several Main Street buildings. If the plan is approved, CHC will return several Main Street store front offices to retail space along the North end of Main Street.

"We've spent a lot of time, energy and focus getting prepared," Masselli told the EDC. "We really thought, 'How do we stimulate this neighborhood."

CHC has options on two Grand Street homes it will demolish to create parking for the project. The new parking area will reduce capacity from 54 to 29 spaces, but Masselli insisted that extra parking would be located next to the old trolley barn just North of Eli Canon's. The new parking will remain a city lot.

Masselli has met with many of the neighboring businesses to gain support for the plan, and while he has made an effort, he had not yet connected with the owners of Eli Canon's whose patrons utilize the current parking lot.

"We need to be good neighbors, and we're seeking their support," Masselli insisted. "We want to be sure they're happy."

While most members of the Committee were enthusiastic in their support of the plan, committeem member and town Councilman David Bauer was put off by the haste at which the plan surfaced and required approval.

"This is the politics of urgency, when we're told we don't even have a month to issue a proper RFP," Bauer said. "The date set is way too abrupt. Too aggressive."

City planner Bill Warner explained that the haste was necessary in order for the city to capture stimulus money.

"This is something I think the governor will find exciting," Warner said. "Another signature building for Main Street."

The committee voted to send the offer for the site to a legal RFP (request for proposal), with a requirement that the RFP would close in time for the Planning and Zoning Board to consider approval in April.

(Grand Street homes considered for demolition for new municipal parking lot adjacent to planned CHC headquarters.)




"We want to be pouring concrete in June," Masselli said before the committee voted approval on RFP issuance.

In other business, the EDC voted to move recommendation of the formation of a city parking authority to review by the Finance and Government committee, the Personnel Committee and the Common Council.

The committe also passed approval for easements for the Algonquin pipeline which will provide natural gas in a pipeline largely located beneath River Road to the Kleen Energy plant.

The EDC also voted to study legal ordinances developed by the town of Berlin to prevent the opening of businesses which deal in sexually explicit materials within city limits, and craft similar ordinances for Middletown.

And in a discussion of shovel-ready projects, the committee voted to draft a letter to be distributed to state legislators urging adoption of a series of eight projects recommended by Mayor Sebastian Giuliano.